Boiler-flue cleaner



(No Model.) 2 sheeiisSheet 1.

W. F. WHITNEY..." BUILBR BLUE CLEANER.

No. 473,987. Patented May 3, 1892.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. P. WHITNEY. BOILBR PLUBGLBANBR.

No. 473,987. Patented May 3, 181927.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVILLIAM F. XVI-IITNEY, OF VVAUKESHA, WISCONSIN.

BOILER-FLUE CLEANER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 473,987', dated May 3,1892. Application led August 17, 1891. Serial No. 402,839. (No model.)

T0 a/ZZ whom t may concern;

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. WHITNEY, of IVaukesha, in the county ofWaukesha and State of Wisconsin, have invented cert-ain new andusefullmprovementsinBoiler-Flue Cleaners; and I do hereby declare thatthe following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,which will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to makeand use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, andto the letters of retcr ence marked thereon, which forma part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to that class of fluecleaners in which a jet ofsteam is employed to remove the soot and other-impurities from the finesof a boiler.

It consists of certain peculiarities in the construction and arrangementof the parts composing the device, particularly of the device by whichthe outer endfof the flue to be cleaned is closed, and of the device forimparting a spiral movement to the steam, hereinafter described, andpointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying` drawings like letters designate the same parts inthe several figures.

Figure l is a side elevation of my improved device in connection with avertical section of a portion of a boiler, illustrating the manner ofholding the device in practical operation. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsection, on a greatly-enlarged scale, of the device. Fig. 3 is an endelevation of the helix by which a spiral movement is imparted to thesteam. Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the discharge end of the device,showing the spreader. Fig. 5 is an axial section of a modified form ofthe valve for controlling` the supply of steam to the flue-cleaner. Fig.6 is a longitudinal view of the valve which I prefer to employ in mydevice; and Fig. 7 is an elevation of the larger end of the valve, thecap being removed to disclose the stop, by which the turning of thevalve proper is limited in either direction at the desired point.

lA represents a pipe or tube of any suitable dimensions for convenienceof manipulation and to afford a conduit for the requisite supply ofsteam for eiectually cleaning the iiues of a boiler. It is provided ator near one end with a ball or spherical enlargement B, upon which theface-plate C is mounted so as to adjust itself to the end of a fine atWhatever angle the tube A may be held. This face-plate C may beconveniently secured upon the ballbearing B by means of a ring or washerc, att-aclied to said plate, with or without an interposed packing-ringo', as shown in Fig.. 2. The apertures in the plate C and the ring orwasher c are fitted to the spherical surface ot' the ball B, andconstitute therewith a ball and socket or universal joint. The packingring or gasket c may be made of rubber, leather,or any other suitablematerial which will produce a tight joint with the ball B and preventthe egress of any soot or dirt in case baclepressure should occur in theboiler-flue, due to the stoppage or clogging of the flue or any othercause. It will be observed that when the discharge end of the tube A ispiresented to the open end of a flue, as shown in Fig. 1, and theface-plate C is pressed against the end of the flue it will find abearing around the entire end of the flue, and thus eiectually close thesame at whatever angle the tube A may be held.

D is a helix or spiral division-plate inserted in the discharge end ofthe tube A. It is eX- panded laterally at its inner end into or providedwith a spreader cl, by which the steam as it escapes from the tube A isdirected outwardly against the inside of the tube, a twisting or spiralmovement having been imparted to the steam within the tube A before itreaches the spreader CZ. The helix or spiral division-plate D isscrew-threaded inside ot' the tube A, so as to be adjustedlongitudinally therein for the purpose of varying the area of thepressure or discharge-opening between the spreaderd and the end of saidtube, and it is provided at its protruding end with a squared head d orother means by which it may be turned for the purpose of adjustment. Tofacilitate the insertion and threading of the helix D in tube A, thelatter may be made in sections, which are joined by a sleeve or couplinga. At or near its opposite end the tube A is provided with a branch E,constituting the steam connection, and a valve F, by which the supply ofsteam is controlled. To the branch connection E is attacheda hose G, bywhich the cleaner is connected with the boiler or any convenientsteamgenerator.

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The branch E preferably joins the tube A, or valve-case constituting anextension thereof, at an acute angle, as shown, so as to afford aslittle impediment as possible to the force of the steam, and the deviceis constructed throughout Witli a view to presenting a freeuninterrupted passage for the steam without abrupt turns or angles todeect-it in its course and thus diminish its force.

The valve F, as sliown in Figs. land 2,com prises a hollow cylinderf,fitted to slide longitudinally a limited distance within a cylindricalvalve-case and constituting the valve proper. It is formed in one sidewith anl aperturef, corresponding and arranged to register with theopening in tlie branch steam connection E. The outer end of thevalvecase is closed by a perforated screw-cap f2, through which the stemf3 of the valve passes, a spring f4, placed over the stein f3, bearingat the ends against the cap f 2, and a cross-pin or projection f5 on thevalve-stem moves and holds the valve normally in the position in whichit is shown in Fig. 2, so as to cutoff the steam from the tube A. Thevalve-steni is provided at its outer end, as shown in Fig. l, with asuitable handle, which, with the handle a on tube A, affords means formanipiilating the Hue-cleaner. I prefer to cover the valve-stem andspring by a shield, which may be conveniently formed of a tube threadedvupon the cap f2 of the valve-case, as shown in Fig. 2. The end of thetube A which is screwed into the valve-case and the cap f2 constitutethe stops by which the longitudinal movement of the valve f is arrestedat the proper points for opening and closing the valve.

In Fig. 5, illustrating a modified forni of valve, the cylindrical valveh is turned in its case instead of being moved lengthwise, to admitsteam into or shut it out from the tube A. The cap at the outer end ofthe valvecase is also omitted, the valve 7i being held in place betweenthe end of the tube A and the end of the tube 7i', screwed into theopposite end of the valve-case, constituting a cover or guard for thevalve-stein and spring. The spring h2 in this case, being secured at oneend in the valve-stem and at the other in the tube h', operates bytorsion to close the valve and hold the same normally in a closedposition, as shown in the drawings.

When constructed in the cylindrical form, (shown in Figs. 2 and 5,)either to slide longitudinallyv or turn in the valve-case, eithervalvefor h may be provided at or near its end with annularpacking-grooves, in which is inserted any suitable kind of packing toprevent leakage of steam through the outer end of the valve-case or intotlie tube A when the valve is closed.

Referring to Figs. 6 and '7, illustrating a simple and effective formand construction of valve which I prefer to use in my improvediiue-cleaner, K represents a conical or frustiim shaped valve-caseformed or provided in the manner hereinbefore specified, with a lateralbranch E for the steam connection. 7c represents a valve proper,accurately iitted to turn inside of the valve-case K and formed in onesido with an aperture 7c', arranged to register with the openingin thebranch steam connection E. 7a2 is a screw-cap threaded upon th'e outerlarger end of the valve-case, so as to close the same, and formed with asquared wrench-head for screwing it upon or off from the valve-case. Thevalve la has a stein 7e3, which projects outwardly through an opening inthe cap la?, and is provided with a suitable handle, by means of whichthe valve is operated. For the purpose of arresting the movement of thevalve 7i: in either direction at the proper point for opening andclosing the same I insert in a recess formed for its reception in theend of the valve-case K a segmentsliaped block 7.44, which projects intoa segmental recess formed in the end of valvekof sufficient length topermit of the necessary movement for opening and closing the valve. Aspring 705, inserted between the end of valve lo and the screw-cap k2,takes up any play between the valve and its case, and thus preventsleakage.

Various changes in the details of construction, particularly of thevalve, may be made within the intended scope of my invention.

l. In a boiler-,flue cleaner, the combination of the steam-supply pipeprovided with a faceplate at or near one end, havinga universaljointconnection therewith, whereby said faceplate is adapted to bear againstthe end of a boiler-flue at whatever angle said steamsupply pipe may beheld, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a boiler-flue cleaner, the combination of a steam-supply pipeprovided at or near its discharge end With a spherical bearing, and aface-plate provided with a socket adapted to said spherical bearing uponwhich it is mounted, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a boiler-tiue cleaner, the combination of a steam-supply pipehaving a suitable connection for attachment to a boiler orsteamgenerator and a thin helical partition-plate inserted in saidsteam-supply pipe and dividing it diametrically into distinct spiralpassages some distance from its dischargingend, so as toimpart withinsaid pipe a positive spiral or twisting movement-of the steam withlittle obstruction thereto, substantially as and for the purposes setforth.

ft. In a boiler-flue cleaner, the combination of a steam-supply pipe, ahelical partitionplate screw-threaded in said pipe and dividing the samediametrically into distinct spiral passages for a distance from itsdischarging end and provided adjacent to the discharge-aperture of saidsteam-supply pipe with a spreader, by which said aperture is closed,more or less, as desired, substantially as and for the purposes setforth.

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'of a steam-supply pipe,

5. In a boiler-iue cleaner, the combination a helical partitionplatescrew-threaded in said pipe and provided at its exposed end with aspreader and means for turning the same, whereby said partitlon-plateand spreader are screwed in or out to diminish or increase the size ofthe discharge-aperture, said partition-plate dividing said pipediametrically into distinct spiral passages some distance from itsdischarging gud,h substantially as and' for the purposes set ort 6. In aboiler-flue cleaner, the combination of a .steam-supply pipe, a branchsteam connectlon entering the same at an acute angle, a'valvecontrolling the supply of steam to said pipe, and a face-plate having auniversal- Joint connection With said pipe and adapted to close the endof a flue, against which it is held at Whatever angle the supply-pipemay be placed, substantially1 as and for the purposes set forth.

7. In a boiler-fine cleaner, the combination of a steam-supply pipeserving as a handle for the manipulation of the cleaner, a steamconnection joining said pipe at an acute angle, a valve for controllingthe supply of steam to the cleaner, a face-plate having a universaljointconnection with said pipe at or near its discharging end, and a helicalpartitionplate inserted in said pipe and provided adjacent to thedischarge-aperture of said pipe with a spreader, said plate and spreaderbeing longitudinally adjustable to vary the size of the aperture throughWhich steam is admitted into the boiler-flue, substantially as and forthe purposes set forth.

In testimonyT that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signaturein presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM F. IVHITNEY.

Witnesses:

CHAs. L. Goss, F. C. BUDD.

